1Centre for Advanced studies in Botany, University of Madras, Guindy campus, Chennai-25
2Central Council of Research in Ayurveda and Siddda, Arumbakkam, Chennai-106
3Dept. of Pharmacology, C. L. Baid Metha College of Pharmacy, Old Mahabalipuram Road, Jyothi Nagar, Thoraipakkam, Chennai-600 097
*Corresponding Author E-mail: balamurugangunasekaran@gmail.com
Online published on 8 April, 2013.
The roots of the plant Asparagus racemosus Willd. was extracted with methanol by soxhlet extraction. The extracts were vaccum dried and subjected to antibacterial (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and antifungal (Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans) screened by agar disc diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentration required for the cessation of the microbial growth was also evaluated. Preliminary phytochemical screening was performed to identify the different phytoconstituents and nutritional analysis was carried out to evaluate the concentration of nutritive factors. The extract exhibited moderate activity against the bacterial strains but significant activity was noticed against the fungal organisms. Concentrations of various nutritive factors were determined and proved a good source of nutritional supplement.
Asparagus racemosus, antibacterial, antifungal, Minimum inhibitory concentration, nutritional analysis
